SACRAMENTO – (INT) – The Sierra snowpack in California is a study in contrast.

“California missed out on critical snow-building storms in January which has pushed the state down below average for this time of year”, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) reported Friday (January 31st).

Statewide, the snowpack is 65 percent of average for this date. On January 1st, the statewide snowpack was 108 percent of average after a series of large storms in November and December boosted snow totals in the Northern Sierra.

The DWR reported an excessively dry January has pushed the Northern Sierra back to near average, the Central Sierra to 58 percent of average, and has led the Southern Sierra Nevada to fall to under 50 percent of average.

Sustained periods of no precipitation can dry the state out very quickly, water officials said.

Story Date: February 9, 2025